Chapter 18
Against my better judgment, I caved and agreed to let Mackenzi use the pool this afternoon. It’s a bad idea; one I can feel in my gut. It’s not reckless enough to qualify as negligence, not much different from the walks she is permitted with my presence.
The pool sits inside the secured inner courtyard, far from the property line, well covered by surveillance cameras, and there is enough tactical coverage on the property to start a war with a small country.
Still… it’s outside. It leaves her open and exposed.
And with reports of cartel chatter escalating by the hour, exposed is not a word I am particularly fond of.
Even with walks providing her with a bit of freedom, she’s still confined to this compound, and I know this is hard on her.
A blind man could see she needs this to relieve some of the tension wound so tightly beneath her skin.
So, when she looked at me over lunch and quietly asked, “Can I please go for a swim? Just for a little bit,” I agreed. Like a fucking love-drunk idiot.
My logic at the time seemed sound enough, but standing in the foyer reviewing perimeter reports through my earpiece while I wait, I’m beginning to suspect my decision-making abilities have been severely compromised where Mackenzi Bradenburg is concerned.
“North wall clear.” Gunnar’s voice crackles softly through comms.
“Copy.”
I glance toward the staircase just as soft footsteps sound above me, suddenly losing my ability to breathe.
Jesus fucking Christ. Mackenzi descends the staircase slowly, one hand trailing lightly along the polished railing, while I practically bite through my fist at the sight of her.
She’s wearing an emerald-green bikini, the tiny fucking thing stunning against her naturally bronzed skin.
The silky fabric barely contains the soft curves spilling from it, every gorgeous inch of her suddenly—devastatingly—on display beneath warm afternoon light pouring through the foyer windows.
Her full thighs jiggle slightly with each step she takes, and her breasts sway, threatening the limits of the delicate emerald fabric.
My jaw nearly hits the floor at the absolutely fucking perfection walking toward me.
She’s halfway down the stairs when she notices I’m staring, and she blushes immediately.
Her reaction only makes it worse, because now she looks shy on top of beautiful, and I’m a heartbeat away from agreeing to anything this goddess wants.
“You okay?” she asks cautiously.
No… not even remotely.
I drag my gaze up her body with visible effort until our eyes meet again, and her eyes light up at whatever she sees on my face.
Good… because she should know what she does to me.
By the time she reaches the bottom of the stairs, I’m certain my racing heartbeat and climbing blood pressure might be approaching the levels of medical concern.
She reaches the landing, and the scent of her sunscreen and vanilla curls around me. “You look fucking gorgeous,” I whisper roughly as she brushes by me.
She ducks her head slightly, fighting a smile and barely mustering, “Thank you.”
I step closer before I can stop myself, lowering my voice as my hand glides over the swell of her hip. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to forget how to behave.”
Her breath catches visibly in her throat, and heat blooms instantly across her cheeks as I put distance between us while we make our way outside.
The pool courtyard sits empty beneath overcast skies, rain from brief storms earlier still glistens across white stone pathways, while the humid summer air hangs heavy over the embassy grounds.
Security rotates near the outer perimeter beyond the gardens; Marines are stationed at intervals along the walls; and surveillance cameras track overhead in steady sweeps.
It’s safe—as safe as anywhere can be right now.
Mackenzi doesn’t hesitate once she reaches the edge. She practically sighs with relief before slipping into the pool with one graceful movement, the emerald fabric disappearing beneath clear water, ripples shimmering outward across the marble edges.
I exhale slowly, immediately regretting permitting this excursion when she surfaces.
Her hair is slicked back, and her wet skin glistens beneath the afternoon light, her soft curves half-submerged.
Staring down at her, I become profoundly aware that I am, in fact, just a man.
A very fucked man struggling to adjust the cock threatening to grow in my cargo pants.
“You keep doing that,” she says quietly, a faint smile lifting the corners of her lips.
My eyes drag over her once more before returning to the perimeter. “Doing what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
I force my attention toward the security rotation near the north side of the grounds. “I’m keeping an eye on you.”
She drifts through the water slowly on her back, sunlight dancing across the surface around her. “Mmhmm,” she murmurs. “Seems very official.”
I ignore her and scan the perimeter again—north wall, south gate, roofline, and movement near the west tower, where two Marines rotate positions—finding everything appearing normal.
Mackenzi swims another slow lap before resting her arms along the edge nearest me, chin propped atop folded wrists.
“You know,” she says casually, “normal people would probably take their shirt off by the pool.”
“I’m armed… and working.”
“You could at least sit down,” she calls lightly, treading water near the edge of the pool. “You’re making me nervous, standing there, looking all intimidating.”
“Intimidating?” The little brat grins wider. “Go. Enjoy your swim.”
Beaming now, she pushes away from the edge, diving briefly. My gaze tracks her movement beneath the surface as tension knots tighter in my shoulders, making the balance between protector and what I want increasingly difficult.
Mackenzi surfaces near the shallow end before splashing water lightly at me, a few cold droplets hitting my pants. I narrow my eyes. “Careful.”
“Or what?”
“Don’t test me, trouble.”
She splashes me again. “Ooops. Too late.” She’s a menace. I move closer to the edge as she laughs softly, sunlight catching the water beading along her shoulders. “You should come in.”
Fuck. The image that request instantly creates in my head should probably concern me.
“You know I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because somebody has to remain capable of rational thought.”
She rolls her eyes before splashing me a third time.
“Unknown vehicle slowing along the north wall.” Gunnar’s voice crackles sharply through my earpiece. Every muscle in my body tightens instantly, the shift from relaxed to alert happens so fast, it’s almost painful. My eyes sweep beyond the courtyard to the north side of the grounds.
“Daddy…” Mackenzi playfully whisper-whines.
I hold one finger up while pressing two against my earpiece. “Description.”
“Black SUV. No embassy clearance.”
My focus sharpens, adrenaline beginning its cold crawl through my bloodstream.
Oblivious, Mackenzi splashes lightly at me again and sighs. “Always so serious.”
I barely register her words, years of instinct suddenly screaming, “This is wrong.”
“Vehicle approaching gate.” Gunnar’s voice cuts sharply through comms. “Three— no. Four men exiting.”
My head snaps toward the perimeter of the water. “Get out of the pool.”
Mackenzi blinks at the sudden harshness in my tone. “What?”
“Now.”
Another voice crackles through comms instantly.
“I’ve got the ambassador,” Hawk says tightly. “Heading to the panic room.”
Shit.
Mackenzi pushes wet hair from her face with a frown. “C’mon, I was just playing around.”
My entire body goes cold; she doesn’t understand. She can’t hear the comms in my ear or recognize the shift in Marine movement along the perimeter walls. She has no idea the embassy is locking down.
“I said,” I snap sharply, firmly annunciating every word, “get out of the fucking pool.”
Her eyes widen at my gruffness, and she apologizes quickly, “No… I’m sorry… I… I was just messing around. I’ll stop.”
There isn’t time to be patient or handle her gently.
I plant one hand hard against the slick marble edge and jump feet first into the shallow end.
Water splashes violently around me the second I hit, soaking through my clothes instantly as I surge toward her through the waves before she can say another word.
The second I reach her, I wrap my arm firmly around her waist.
“Dam—”
“Move!” I drag her body toward the stairs, her fighting against me as I pull her through the pool. Water drips from my clothes as I carry her up the steps.
“Wait—”
“Get back in your vehicle!” The chorus of Marines echoes sharply from beyond the perimeter, and fear flashes instantly across her face when she realizes this isn’t a game.
“Damon?”
I don’t answer, hauling her across the courtyard toward the nearest secure room. My wet footprints streak across the marble floors as Marines swarm the grounds behind us, their rifles raised.
My earpiece crackles constantly, “Perimeter breach attempted… Possible distraction maneuver… Lock the east gate.”
Mackenzi clutches my arm hard enough to bruise as panic finally starts flooding through her.
I shove open the nearest door and drag her inside with me before kicking it shut behind us, locking the storage room door a second later. “Mackenzi secure,” I bark into comms.
“Copy.” My pulse hammers violently beneath my ribs—adrenaline, fear, and rage all tangled together into something volatile and dangerous.
Mackenzi turns toward me, breathing hard, water still dripping down her bare skin, while confusion and fear widen her eyes. “Damon, what’s happening?—”
I grab her firmly and pin her roughly against the wall, face first, with my body shielding hers instinctively.
She gasps in surprise as she hits the cool drywall.
With one hand braced beside her head, my other grips her hip hard enough to keep her still.
Outside is chaos, but in this tiny room, all I can feel is the wash of relief, knowing she’s safe beneath my hands.
“Reckless,” I growl against the side of her neck. “Not listening to me is fucking reckless.”
Her breathing shakes slightly. “I?—”
Then she stops abruptly when I hook my fingers beneath the edge of her bikini bottom. I tear back the fabric just enough to expose one soft, bare ass cheek completely.
Mackenzi jolts hard against the wall.
“Damon—”
“Daddy,” I correct, palming the exposed skin firmly, breathing rough and uneven against the damp curve of her neck as adrenaline surges violently through my bloodstream. “You scared the fuck out of me.”
My control is no longer fraying. It has completely snapped.
After kicking her feet apart slightly, I drag my hand possessively over her flushed, exposed skin and whisper roughly against her ear, “I love your fucking fire, trouble, but you need to learn to listen.”
My hand comes down hard across her bare cheek, the crack echoing sharply through the small room as a startled yelp rises from Mackenzi’s lungs.